The Bonnyville Sr. Pontiacs let a win slip through their grasp.
Head coach Corey Wandler was pleased with the effort everyone on the bench put into their game against the Devon Barons on Saturday, Jan. 12.
“We were the first team to crack. We were right there with them right until the end. Unfortunately, we came up short with a couple of bad bounces and the puck for them just found ways to go in,” detailed Wandler.
While the Barons started the game on the scoreboard, Pontiac Ty Carey tied it up at the 16:47 mark.
Devon once again took the lead a few minutes later.
Pontiac Denis Cadrin added two more goals to the scoreboard before the end of the first frame.
Jared Jorgenson capitalized on a powerplay, bringing the Pontiacs’ lead to 4-2.
Continuing to build on their momentum, Cadrin scored another for the home team five minutes into the second.
The home team widened the gap 5-2 thanks to a goal from Dru Morrison.
The Barons brought the score up to 6-4 before the end of the second.
The visiting team capitalized on a powerplay in the third, but Cadrin answered with a goal of his own.
The rest of the period went to the Barons, where they managed to break the 7-7 tie with less than a minute left in the game.
For Austen Watier, it was the first time he stepped on the ice wearing the Pontiac jersey.
“It was a pretty good (game), and both teams tried pretty hard. We got up on them a few times, and I got into a little bit of penalty trouble. That’s the way (it) goes,” he explained.
Wandler said, “We find ways to lose. It’s kind of been the story all year. We took another one on the chin to a team that we knew had a lot of offence and speed. We wanted to contain that as much as we could.”
Their most recent loss means the Pontiacs remain in last place in their division.
Now, they will have to focus on the final two games remaining in order to guarantee their spot in the playoffs.
“We’ve got to find a way to get three out of four points next weekend. If not, our season will come to an end next Sunday. It’s crunch time for us,” expressed Wandler.
Their next home game will be Sunday, Jan. 20 against the Morinville Kings. Puck drop is 6:30.
